Go Daddy’s CIO Augustine Goldman, through an official blog post explained the events that lead to the site’s breakdown. It confirmed that a series of perfect storm of network failures were responsible for the outage, and that the site was not hacked.

In the blog post, Goldman answered that the DNS server of the company answers about 10 billion DNS queries everyday, over 41 million DNS zones.

The September 10 event, says Goldman, “pushed many of our routers beyond their capabilities.”

“There was not a single issue that caused the service disruption,” writes Goldman. “Rather, it was the combination of multiple factors. The combined factors that contributed to the service disruption were: Router memory exhaustion; Router hardware failure modes; Containment.”

The investigation report said that Go Daddy’s routing hardware failed to transfer a very large routing table to the Forwarding Information Base. The routing hardware fell back to software switching mode and the routers’ CPUs did not transfer the packets.

“Within minutes of the beginning of the event, a recovery procedure was executed and the errant routes were removed from the routing protocol of all of our routers,” writes Goldman. “The procedure relied on a standard response from the routers’ software – remove the routes from the FIB and begin forwarding in hardware again. This coupled with normal tiered DNS caching should have minimized any service disruption that could possibly have been caused by the change. This timeout mechanism did not execute.”

Go Daddy says it has filtered routing information from the network, and has restored the routing table. It restored services as it brought back the pods online.

The HostingCon 2012 at Boston, MA, USA is considered to be the largest web hosting conference organized ever. A large number of delegates have reached the city to attend the conference. These delegates represent a cross nation of more than thirty countries.

The conference is expected to witness some important breakthrough announcements pertaining to web hosting, cloud hosting and related equipment and platform. Also on agenda is the discussion of the future policy and path of cloud and web hosting business. Some of the pioneer vendors like Microsoft, Google, Oracle, Dell, HP, and other big technology giants are also participating in this event. It is expected that several new launches and partnerships could also be inked this year.

Among the new launches making the buzz was Microsoft Office 15 one of the major products, which will be launched. This launch has been scheduled due to the opportunity of presence of a huge number of technology leaders at the event. It is anticipated that this will give the much needed head start to the product. Few other announcements have surfaced till now are the major trends of managed service providers or MSPs will be discussed and some guidelines are also expected to set the path of future progress in this domain of business. It is also expected that some special announcements are on the agenda from parallel competitive Web hosting companies.

An average business man today wants to move his business online. Having got a website hosted and running it, he will be excited about its reach. After sometimes he wonders if his website is really giving him the ideal service. Curious owners then try to lay down his hands on some excellent monitoring tools which can be used to check the performance of the web hosting company.

Who is hosting

This is one of those efficient tools that can be used to check the performance of the hosting provider. It has a rather simple window where the domain name of the website will be displayed. This tool immediately looks for the hosting provider and displays it.

Netcraft

This tool usually provides most cases of data and analysis in the web and virtual private server (VPS) hosting providers. It can indicate different selection of services that every web and VPS hosting company offers which include server downtime, anti-phishing and other services.

DNSStuff

This tools’ manufacturer has many utility tools that can be obtained and used for free whilst some can be procured with a little price. This company also provides website proprietors tools such as Wake-on LAN, RFC Research, Traceroute and Country IP Range toolsets.

SamSpade

Provides detail analysis and information that looks very much like those provided by WHOIS. com web site. The utility tool not only indicates the web or VPS hosting providers for the particular website, but also generates more information like the date of expiration in the domain, hosting, contact information and name servers for the website as well.

In a business environment, developing a work culture is a very important step in one’s career path. Things like checking up all the deadlines, come to work on time and maintaining a cordial relationship with your peers constitute as good work culture. Same principles apply when you are on the other side of the glass door and if you are a web host more so as you are responsible for customers and based on their experience your company thrives. Of late, it is observed that several web hosts are shutting down business because they are losing customers and gaining poor reputation. On closer inspection, it has become clear that these companies lack the basic ethics which every web hosting companies needs to follow. Take a look at some of them listed below and incorporate them in your work culture to ensure that your company doesn’t become another one to bite the dust.

Up-time should be the Goal:

As a global rule of thumb, every possible flaw in the system will be ignored if the sites that you are hosting stay online 24X7. Features and services needed for the smooth operation of the websites are all in order and in perfect working condition. Although a small downtime is acceptable, anything more than that is not.

Usually when the downtime nightmare takes place, the hosting websites experience certain side effects. Web monitoring agents search for websites which have been in limbo for a certain time. These agents have the power o suspend or even delete these inactive sites. Not to mention the visitors who will also remove the sites from their lists thinking the site is closed. To avoid such incidents, maintaining a 100% up time record is ideal.

Map the Performance:

As a web host, you will always have profits on your mind. That is the reason you will want to cram as many sits as you can in a single server. The downside of this practice is that, all the websites will not be able to perform optimally. You should make sure that all the sites that you are hosting perform well. The one way to ensure that this happens- stop overloading the servers.

Make Customer Service/Support an Experience:

We all know that things that you really want to avoid just come back and smack you on the face. These will be times when servers will crash and when they will require through maintenance. During these time s you should make sure that your customers know about it. To ensure that the alerts are not treated as spam, give your customers options to receive updates.

Deliver What You Promise:

Industry experts state that customers will waste no time in moving to a different host, if they don’t really keep up with their promise. Certain web hosts will promise to launch revolutionary services which will change the face of the web experience you are going to hear a lot of excitement from your customers but if these promises fall flat, all you are going to hear the customers say is “nothing to do here”.

Remember, you thrive through your customers:

Bear in mind that your company makes money through the web masters and that your relationship with these people is direct and you are paid by them. It is important to not annoy the customers as you might find yourself out of business. More importantly ,recession is at large and to keep yourself from going down that road, makes sure that your customers are happy and automatically your company will prosper.

In the present times, internet has become a way of life. It has changed profiles of various industries and trades dramatically. E-commerce is one profile which is basically a business that is established online. It won’t be wrong to say that e-commerce has changed the way people shop or do business. Now e-commerce and domain names go hand in hand and finding an ideal domain name for your e-commerce company is a whole new ball game. Registering a name on the World Wide Web comes with rules which are not very clear, hence innocent and new business owners become vulnerable to law suits. Cybersquatting is one such issue. It’s when a domain name is purposely registered to gain profit off another’s trademark. Let’s look into this issue much more closely so that you can learn to avoid it or in case of a dispute, how to go about it

ICANN Can Help

ICANN, which is a California-based Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, takes care of all types of domain name system management. When an issue of Cybersquatting arises, the complaining party takes ICANN’s special aid. ICANN accredits four different domain name dispute resolution services which handle the disputes effectively without having to take the dispute to court.

How Does It Work?

Usually the resolution takes place online and the entire process takes less than 45 days to come up with a decision. What is good about this system is that, even after the decision has been taken, if the company is still not satisfied with the results, it can take the matter to court. To further the process after the complaint, the defendant has to produce documents which can verify if the trademark is legit.

Three Little Steps to Victory:

You will have to show proof which states that the domain name you are disputing against has a similarity to your website. Doing so will work in your favor. For e.g. if your brand is called Globes and the respondent’s domain name is Globesinmygarden, the case might be in your favor.

Show proof which would establish the fact that the registered domain name is actually your name or that you have no bona fide use of the domain name. For instance, a guy whose name just happens to be Michael Jackson doesn’t have to relinquish his domain (provided he produces sufficient proof) just because he and the ‘king of pop’ share the name.

Prove that the other person is using your domain name with the intention of personal gain. Cybersquatting rules will only apply when the other guy is trying to sell a well known trademark to the owner for profit.

Although the disputes can be resolved though ICANN’s process, some disputants still go to court. One of the reasons might be the fact ICANN takes up cases only when the domain names are top-level domain like ‘.com’, ‘.net’ or ‘.org’.

Things you should also remember if you are a domain name investor is that, not everything is worrisome. There have been instances of people who have raked in considerable amount by selling their domain names. One such example is Boston Business Consulting Inc. whose domain name was bbc.org. BBC paid $200,000 for the domain name.

As per industry reports, BrainHost.com was recently named as the Top Pick Web Host by the industry renowned Review site, WebHostingSearch.com.

“It’s gratifying to be recognized for all the hard work we’ve put into turning Brain Host into a brand people know and trust,” said Brain Host president Corey Hammond. “Our focus has always been on quality service and responsive support, so it’s nice to know we’re doing something right!”

Brain Host offers superior customer support all day, everyday via phone and email. Their comprehensive training modules are specially designed to help customers get a wholesome experience of the website. The service package includes unlimited storage and bandwidth, free website builder with templates, the popular cPanel control panel, and more

WebHostingSearch.com offers honest, unbiased reviews for various we hosting providers to help customers get a better picture about the companies. It rates hosts based on various factors including secret shopper feedback, customer support, uptime, technology & hardware, and more.

Brain Host is considered to the leading web hosting company in the industry. They are known for their superior shared hosting packages. They offer 99.9% server uptime, and 24/7 US-based customer support.

We all swear by the phrase “All good things come free”. But in the present is it really true? For example, take the web hosting universe- are the web hosts who advertise their “Free Services” are really worth the hype or is it just another scheme to con you into spending much more than you intended in the beginning? The industry itself has witnessed several accounts where the companies have gone bankrupt while leaving their customers high and dry after failing to offer them free hosting services for life.

In spite of the nightmare stories surrounding the “free service” option, there are people who are still considering it. For the same reason, let us look at this deal under the microscope which will offer some insight on this free hosting scheme.

Free Services Come With a Price Tag:

Often to capture attention of potential customers, companies put up a “free web hosting ad” all over their site, and while it is tempting, closer inspection will reveal that, you have to shell out one-time only fees to avail the services. Adding to the fine print is the fact that you also have to have a domain registered with that particular web host by paying an additional capital. Don’t have a domain, we’ll see that hole in your pocket widen as you may end up paying a significant premium for a new domain.

Adding insult to the injury is the revelation that you will come across after you have just finished paying for your free services. This just happens to the detail that says that your free hosting service has restricted bandwidth and disk space. So basically by the end of it, you just find out that you have burned through your company’s saving just to afford the free services. The best part about this whole scam is that your web host will later offer to up sell you to go for the paid plan in the future.

The Crack in the Pot:

It is needless to say that the entire scheme of free web hosting is flawed. Let me give you as walk through, these hosts get paid only once i.e. when the customer signs up, but they have to keep paying to keep up their customer’s service indefinitely. These hosts are highly vulnerable to credit card fraud too as thieves use these sites to check if the cards are good to go. Also since their operating costs are low, it affects the quality of the services they provide. Considering free services mean that you will have to compromise on critical areas of services like security, uptime, data backup, customer service and support.

The Third Wheel:

Your uptime depends on how reliable your provider’s server is. if your web host is reselling hosting on a third party’s server, then it is something to be worried about. In case of faults, your hosting provider will have no idea about how or when the problem will be fixed. The person who suffers during this whole ordeal is yes, you. Worst case scenario with the involvement of a third party will be if your service provider and the third party start a dispute. In such cases, be ready for your website to go into limbo till they hug and make up.

Even when the web hosts have their own servers, chances are they don’t really spend a lot (cause its free remember?) on security. This feature (or the lack of it) makes it a perfect hunting ground for scammers and fraudsters. Investing in a quality security service should help. Also these hosts don’t have back up services either (why are even considering free service?), so make sure to back up all your data on a regular basis.

Test Your Patience With Customer Service:

Free web hosting services offer customer support through email. These companies are severely understaffed which comes as no surprise. So in case of a serious problem , you just should kick back and relax (or not) as it is unlikely that you will be able to hear a voice on the other end of the line if you are calling the support staff.

Bottom line is, free hosting service is for people who like to gamble and also are experienced to deal with ‘perks’ which come with deal. It is also for someone looking or services with minimum support. This is strictly prohibited for people who have just learnt how the internet works.

Let me ask you this, what is the first thing that comes to your mind when I say” hacker”? Most possibly you will picture a guy sitting at a bus station typing out codes with ferocity on his ultra book and somewhere down the road, the entire server room of the FBI crashes. Well truth be told, Hollywood has considerably exaggerated this habit of certain individuals and in reality, hackers are people who just enjoy fiddling around with software source code and hardware gigs. Now, there are government organizations and high profile businesses that are always on the lookout for people who have this recreational interest. These types of hackers are aptly termed as ethical hackers. Yes, these people hack systems for a living. Now before you decide to embark on this career path (let’s face it, it is alluring and completely unorthodox), note down a few pointers.

Build an impressive skill set, even social skills

To make a substantial impact in your financial status by working in this field, you should be marketable. To get there, you will need relevant experience with various certifications under your belt. Getting a degree with computer major is also a very good idea as that will provide you with the exposure in the IT industry. Good thing is, once you have locked all these down and have got a significant professional experience, you can even work as a consultant.

Being an ethical hacker, you will need to communicate a lot, yes; you cannot pose as a loner with a laptop for company. Communication with different parties is the key here.For this, developing your soft skills will come in handy. A strong work ethic with people skills are some of tricks of the trade. Remember, if you are good communicator, you will be able to manipulate people to disclose credentials or execute files (for research/investigation purposes)

What kind of skills are we talking about?

This is a very important question. To be a professional hacker, you need to get the right certifications and get approved by the right organizations. Start with getting certification in technical support. This is pivotal as it reveals a lot of information s about systems, languages and how different portals and channels operate. Security certifications like CISSP, Security+, or TICSA are especially fruitful. Once you have this entire batch covered, move forward to get the ultimate certification- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification from the International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants, also known as the EC-Council. This certification training module covers topics like viruses, Trojan horses, backdoors, denial of service attacks, system hacking, session hijacking.

Keep updating yourself:

Fields like ethical hacking are ever changing. That’s why keeping oneself updated is pertinent. If you are serious about the field, this will help you develop an edge over others. Reading materials offer valuable insights on the inner working of hacking, session hijacking and even gives a know-how about the industry itself.

Temptation can be a sin

Even ethical hacking can drag you down to the murky waters of system abuse. Why? Think about it, you have a sea of information about a client or even a competitor. Naturally, most people are tempted to explore which may lead to intruding networks without full permission, among other things. Instances like illegal hacking can do a lot of damage to your career, not to mention to chances of becoming a tax paying citizen of the country.

Bottom line is, resist the temptation. No information is permanently deleted, even if you cover your tracks, technology will catch up and it will reveal quite a bit about you. Be sensible and maintain the ethic quotient and it is assured that this career path will take you forward.

Webmasters all over the world are constantly looking for hosting services which are cost effective and not too complicated. Now if you are a newbie in the market and are just looking forward to opening a non-revenue generating site, chances are, you are hosted on a Linux server. Linux actually is a good candidate for a web host as it is cheap and you don’t have to stress over advanced and complex functions. But, if there is a chance that you suddenly want to jazz up your website and decide to make money by selling your homemade pickles, you will require a server operating system which can keep up with the upgrades. To successfully run an e-commerce store, upgrades like ASP, PHP and Perl are pertinent. You actually don’t need to know a lot about them; just that they are intelligent programs which make your website more customer- friendly and your life as a seller a lot easier.

Which Operating System?

In simple words, you can choose any type of server operating system you want. It is not set in stone that you have to use the windows web hosting just because you use that particular OS. Although if you are a loyalist, go for it. More than the choice of the operating system, you should concentrate on understanding your web publishing software and your FTP. Once you do that, your host can be any operating system.

Website designing:

Once you have decided on the name of your website, you should have a clear picture of what your website should do. Like mentioned above, a jazzy website will run with ASP, PHP and Perl based programs. But it is important to remember that these languages are either Windows or Linux based. So now would be the time to read up about what these languages do for an interactive site. Once you have narrowed that down, you are good to go. ASP is windows based but it will also run on Linux. The catch is, it will not work just as well as in Windows. So bottom line, it’s always best to go with the operating system the language was built for.

Security Issues

As it is widely knows, UNIX based operating system offer better security. This is usually because these systems fly under the radar and are reliable whereas big shots like windows are easy targets. You should always keep in mind that no matter what your hosting server is, you must update it regularly and not to mention configure it properly. Find a web host which automatically upgrades its resources. Also a good point for consideration is the speed and the performance rate. These two parameters are tell-tale signs of the overall efficiency of the web host. Your chosen web host should be able to come out stronger under any circumstances with minimum causalities.

The long and short of it is that, you should opt for a server host based on what and how you want your site to be.

It is no illusion that the world has become quite compact. With information constantly being fed to us, it is important that we keep all these information someplace safe and easily accessible. So we have found the best place to store them, a place which is omnipresent in our lives. Yes, the internet. People have been storing information online for quite some time and that one group of people who always innovate to make technology work for them (and us) took the idea and took it on an entire new level. What is it? One word- “Dropbox”. Dropbox has been quoted as one of the most promising tools for literally “making -technology -work -for –you” category. This application has some really creative developments and has evolved quite a bit since its launch back in 2008.

Dropbox 101

Dropbox is a cross-platform system plug-in that gives users a shared drop box where they can unload files and then access them from multiple computers, similar to how they would on a home machine. Dropbox allows the common man to think out of the box. Once you have installed this phenomenal app, you can drop any file of any type in it, and it will appear in each shared user’s Dropbox almost instantaneously.

This tool comes with pretty nifty features. It keeps track of changes that might have taken place to the files dropped there. It also keeps the original files if the user wants to revert back to the previous versions of the files. The best part is that all the files are archived using cloud storage. So one can access those files from anywhere across the globe, as long as the place has an internet connection.

Dropbox also supports a photo album feature which systematically organizes and groups all your photos into albums using the available metadata. After doing all that, it notifies the user that the files are synched. It literally takes the award for the most efficient app.

Dropbox puts an end to muscle movement

Ever since its inception, people have been using it in some really creative ways. For one, some have used the app to control their PC remotely just so they can be much more productive online. Dropbox coupled with Akira (a Windows run utility) work together to achieve the remotely controlling the PC bit. When these two are combined, you can do all the mundane tasks from the comfort of your couch without moving an inch Ah, the magic of technology, you can open a file, terminate a process, run an application, take a screen shot, or completely shut down the PC remotely.

How to Increase your online productivity through Dropbox?

Share Information:

Start with the basics here. You have a business meeting and your laptop will act as your office. What happens when you forgot that very important file on your PC? Don’t panic and just get someone to drop it in the Dropbox. That’s the beauty of the tool. Its versioning function allows you to access it from anywhere. Also if you have made changes in the file, everyone in the share network will be able to view them automatically.

Sync your Passwords:

Dropbox lets you be productive by keeping tabs on all your account information, usernames and passwords in synch with all the computers you use. That way, the next time you want to go antique shopping online, you don’t have to pull your hair out trying to remember the passwords. This feature is highly useful and can be accessed by conjoining it with RoboForm which is very affordable software. The winning idea that comes out of this is that you don’t have to remember any password again.